As Florida residents and avid water sport enthusiasts we have both always had great fascination and respect for the West Indian Manatee. Getting the opportunity to spend some time up close with them in their native habitat was something that was on both of our bucket lists!
Crystal River is a gem. This sleepy little town has managed to escape the commercialism and development that has affected many of the other parts of the state. Despite being relatively small the town has its share of excellent restaurants! Vintage on 5th had a fantastic menu that had gourmet twists on comfort food favorites such as mac n' cheese (made with goat cheese, sausage and tomato) and bourbon glazed pork chops. The Highlander Cafe featured great coffee, smoothies, soups and sandwiches.
Since Crystal River has managed to escape over development, hotel options are fairly limited. We stayed at the Plantation on Crystal River which was located directly on the river and had its own dive shop, manatee tours, and boat ramp. We could not have been happier with the amenities- the heated pool and hot tub were a welcomed treat after being in the chilly water. There was a great restaurant on site which featured the best brunch on the planet! For $15 per person you can indulge in a huge spread of excellent food while listening to live piano music with a view the river! While the rates can vary, we lucked out and got an upgraded room for just over $100 per night.
The best part of staying at the Plantation was that it was located only a short paddle (20 minutes) from The Three Sisters Springs. Considering the manatee tours run about $50 per person, paddling our own kayak from the hotel was a great savings. The tour boats arrive at the springs around 7am and bring with them crowds of people that often are unaware of basic snorkeling etiquette. We strongly advise that you get to the spring head as close to sunrise as possible to avoid crowds and to get optimum water clarity. As the people arrive the sandy bottom is kicked up and the visibility worsens.
A few minutes drive South brings to you the town of Homosassa which has the most commercialized state park either of us have ever been to. Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park feels more like a zoo than a state park. Despite the crowds the park has a nice area to view manatees from land as well as many exhibits featuring native Florida animals. The only exception to this is Lucifer ("Lu") the rhinoceros who was named an honorary Floridian by governor Lawton Chiles.
Another place worth checking out is The Monkey Bar located at the Riverside Resort a few miles South of the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The restaurant and bar features a view of Monkey Island, which as the name suggests, is an island full of monkeys. Grabbing a meal or a drink here is a unique experience as the monkeys are very active and wildly entertaining. If you have a boat or a kayak you can view them even closer although you need to be sure to stay far enough away to keep them from boarding your vessel!
